Saint Pachomius the Great
Saint Pachomius the Great
(Commemoration 14 Bashans – 22 May 81)
His Origin:
Saint Pachomius is the father of coenobitic life, that is, the founder of monastic life in community, and the one who set its rules and systems. His rules later passed to the monasteries of Saint Basil the Great in Cappadocia. John Cassian also took them, and they became the foundation for the Benedictine monasteries in the West.
This saint was born to pagan parents. It is said that he was born around the year 290 A.D. in a town in the region of Esna, possibly Kasr al-Sayyad or near it.
His Conversion to Christianity and His Monasticism:
His heart longed for God, and he was not at peace with pagan worship. God responded to his longing. He joined the army in the year 310 A.D. His unit passed through a Coptic village, and the Christians honored them greatly. He admired their religion. When his military service ended, he asked to become a Christian. It is said that he was baptized by Anba Serapion, Bishop of Dendera, in the year 314 A.D.
He admired the life of asceticism and became a disciple of a holy hermit named Anba Palamon, who clothed him in the monastic schema and trained him in the ascetic life for seven years. Then he lived in solitude on his own.
His Establishment of Monasteries:
The first monastery he founded was in Tabennisi (near Dendera), called the Monastery of Tabennisi (Donaseh). He set precise rules for it regarding prayers, work, obedience, order, and service, benefiting in this from his military experience. After that he founded a monastery in Edfu (Pabau) and made it his center (the main monastery). He founded other monasteries—some say nine, others seventeen (perhaps some were Pachomian monasteries established after his lifetime).
He appointed for each monastery a head and a steward, and other necessary positions.
Saint Pachomius also founded a monastery for nuns. Mary, his sister, was the first nun to join it, and he appointed a venerable elder to guide its nuns. His brother John also joined the monastic life, and Pachomius implanted meekness in him.
A Note on His Monastic System:
Every monk had work inside the monastery, and the monks stayed away from positions outside it. They were also distant from priestly ranks. Saint Pachomius would request some priests from nearby villages to celebrate the Divine Liturgies and religious services. He himself fled from being ordained a priest when Saint Athanasius offered him that.
Saint Pachomius refused that his monasteries should possess properties or endowments.
The Virtues of the Saint:
Saint Pachomius was known for firmness as well as meekness, for great asceticism, abundant prayer and tears, and for equaling himself with the rest of the monks in work and in obedience to the rules. He was an example to them in everything. He was humble and did not seek to perform miracles.
His Disciples:
Saint Pachomius departed in the year 348 A.D. He was succeeded by Saint Petronius, then Saint Horsiesios, then Saint Theodore, who was the most famous and holy of Saint Pachomius’ disciples. Among his disciples also were Silvanus, Cornelius, Sanamon, and others. Their blessing be with us. Amen.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
